Centrifugal casting machine



Dec. 4, L934. -w. A. GEISLER 1,983,075

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed June '2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l awu'emtoz Dec. 4, 1934. w. A. GEISLER 1,983,075

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT {OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Application June 2, 1931, SerialNo. 541,604

8 Claims.

} concerned with a machine in whichthe mould and core are rotated by one source of power and the table with the core is moved into and out of normal relation to the mould by an independent source of power. The construction is characterized by fewness of parts and complete accessibility insuring low cost in casting.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machineof the character described means positively engageable with the core plate and movable with the table to pull down the core plate and casting when the casting operation is completed. More specifically, the preferred embodiment-includes such positively engageable means which shall be automatically engaged'with the core plate at such time as will insure thepositive retraction described and automatically disengaged therefrom when the core plate is to be removed from the table. The improved machine permits the casting of articles of different shapes, depending on the character of the core and mould, rapidly, and with a substantially finished surface. The machine is particularly adapted for casting articles from cast iron, with greater density and more homogeneous structure than has heretofore been possible, the physical characteristics of the resulting casting being controllable within limits by speed of rotation at which the metal is cast; The effect in such casting is to provide for pressure within the body of the metal so that it may broadly be characterized as pressure casting. The improvements will be described more fully in connection with the embodiment of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein 3 Figure 1 is a view in vertical-section through a machine embodying the invention, the table and core being shownin lowered position, and the table uncoupled from the core plate.

Figure 2 is a view in section through the machine shown in Figure 1 and talren on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the table and core being locked to the mould, and the table coupled with the core plate.

The mould and. associated parts may be supported in an elevated position byany suitable means illustrated as uprights a on which are secured a circular base b. On the base b are supported a plurality of roller bearings c, the axles c of which may be journaled in ball bearings 0 These roller bearings c are preferably inclined at such an angle as most effectively to do their work and support the static load to be placed thereon while resisting lateral thrust and insuring proper ceritering at all times of the mould as will appear la er. a i i On the rollers c rests a horizontally disposed circular flange at having a roller track cl which is also inclined to conform to the inclination of the bearing surface of the rollers c. The flange d'is carried With a vertically disposed drum d which carries at'its lower edge a circular bearing plate d Bearing plate d is engaged by a plurality of rollerse' supported, preferably, by roller bearings e on axles f mounted on the base b. By engagement of the rollers e with the upper surface of the bearing plate d adjacent its edge it will be understood that perfect centering of the drum d is insured at all times, the surface of the rollers e being preferably of such orosssectional form as 0 to resist lateral thrust.

On the drum cl is supported the mould g which in the illustrated embodiment is shown as separate from but secured to a ring it which in turn is secured on the upper surface of the flange d.

The mould g at its upper surface has an opening g for pouring metal as through a funnel i disposed thereover. The ring it has its inner edge tapered as at h. i

The core to be used in association with the mould g is illustrated at k. This core is carried on a circular plate Z, the outer edge of which is tapered at l to conform to the taper h on the inner edge of the ring it. When the plate Z and core is are disassociated from the mould g the 9 plate I may rest on transversely extending supports m whereby removal of the casting is facilitated. i

The mechanism for elevating and lowering the core is with its plate Z will now be described. This 0 consists, in the preferred form, of a table n which has a depending hub n mounted to rotate on a vertical spindle 0 which is carried by a movable ram p. Ball bearings 0 may be interposed between the spindle o and hub 11. to center the table while permitting its free rotation during casting. The vertical ram p may be formed as a hollow tube on the surface of which is secured a rack 10' engageable by a spur pinion q carried on a shaft q rotatable fromany suitable source of power such It is desirable in a machine of the character described to couple the table with the core plate so that when the table is lowered the core plate and casting will be pulled away from the mould. While this condition can be realized by devices of various designs that will be apparent to one skilled in the art there has been illustrated in the draw ings suitable means which function automatically to couple and uncouple the core plate and table at proper stages of the operation. 7 As shown, the hub 11. has pivoted thereon dogs n which may be of any required number, two being illustrated at diametrically opposed points. These dogs are normally urged outwardly by springs n Theupper ends of the dogs protrude through openings 11. formed in the table 12 and also through the central opening Z in the core. plate Z. When the table and core plate are; coupled as shown in Figure 2 it will be seen that the toes n of the dogs overlie and engage the core plate I being maintained in such position by the springs n Thus, when power is' applied to lower the ram 10 the dogs will serve to pull down the .plate Z with the core and casting. At or before the. time the plate Z comes to reston" the transversely extending supports m,,-for the removal of the casting or the core with its plate it is, of course, desirable that the dogs shall be disengaged from the plate thereby uncoupling. the table and plate. This result may be accomplished automatically as shown in Figure 1-. A stop may be provided consisting of a ring w which may be permanently supported on brackets to from the base r of the machine. The position of the ring w with respect to the dogs n and the supports m, and the diameter of the ring w with respect to the dogs n is such that when the .ram is lowered the dogs will engage the ring w and be urged inwardly against the action of the springs 11 to disengage the toes n from the plate Z. Thus, the plate is uncoupled from the table, as shown in Figure 1.

From the description given it will be evident that by operation of the motor q the table it may be elevated with theram p to carry the plate Z with the core Ic up into the mould until the tapered surfaces Z and h are in snug engagement. The parts may then be secured in position by suitable clamps s operated manually by cam levers s, the clamps being supported movably in the ring h. As shown in Figure 2 when the cam levers s are forced downwardly the clamps s engage the under surface of the plate Z and draw it up into snug engagement with the ring it where it remains locked. When the table Zis to be lowered the cam levers s are thrown upward thereby relieving I the clamps s and the latter may be rotated on their axes so as to carry them out of line with the plate as indicated in Figure 1.

With the parts clamped, as shown in Figure 2, the mould and core are to. be rotated while the metal is poured to accomplish pressure casting, the metal being subjected to centrifugal force during the casting and the desired degree of den-- sity being thereby accomplished and bearing some relation to the speed of rotation. The invention is concerned with the provision of simple and accessible power means for thus rotating the mould at any desired speed. The drum d has secured to its outer surface a ring gear '6. .111 mesh with this gear is a spur pinion u carried on a vertical u which is mounted rotatably in antiiriction bearings such as ball bearings u supported on the base I). At the lower end of the shaft u is secured a gear a with which meshes a spur gear 2) rotated by any suitable source of power and illustrated as secured on an armature shaft 1; on an electric motor 0 The motor 12 may be bolted on the supports a in. aposition with its armature vertically disposed.

It is evident that the speed of rotation of the mould g will depend on the characteristics of the motor 12 but for a motor of given characteristics the speed of rotation can be controlled by the gear ratio between the armature v and the drum (P. This ratio can best be changed if and when desired by changing the spur gears a 12, as will be evident.

During casting the parts are held effectively centered by the bearings described despite the speed of rotation. After the metal is poured rotation of the mould is arrested and the plate I with the core Is and casting are lowered by opera- .tion of. the motor q the platel being left on the transverse supports m.

It may be desirable to provide; an upwardly extending skirt :2 which encircles all of the moving parts, and constitutes an efiective shield withoutinterfering with the assembly described and operation of the elements.

The construction is such that. the mould. 9 may be changed. if and when desired without change of. the other parts different cores k may be substituted on the table I, and the speed of rotation may be changed as explained, all without disturbing other parts of the machine. The operation is wholly under the control of the operator through. the power units and the casting operations may be carried on with minimum efiort, low cost and uniform results.

Some changes in form and relationship will be obvious to one skilled in the art but such changes are deemed. to be within the spirit of the invention provided they fall within the range; of equivalents within the scope of. the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A casting machine comprising a vertical axis rotatable mould, a rotatable bottom plate therefor, means to rotate the mould and plate, power means to raise and lower the plate, and means co-operating with said power means to disengage the plate iromthe power means.

' 2. .A casting machine comprising a frame, a rotatable mould therein, a concentric cylindrical core, a rotatable table beneath the mould on which the core is mounted, means. to rotate the mould and core on a vertical axis, power means to raise and lower the table, and means to support the core in lowered position independent of the table, and means for applying said power means to disengage the core from the mould.

3. A casting machine comprising a rotatable mould, a concentric cylindrical core, a rotatable table on which the core is mounted, means to rotate the mould and core ona vertical axis, power means to raise and lower the table, means to sup-- port the core in lowered position independent of the table, and coupling means automatically operable to engage the table with the core when in elevated position and disengage the table and the core when in lowered position.

4. A casting machine comprising a rotatable mould, a core plate, a rotatable table on which the plate is mounted, power means to raise the plate into engagement with the mould, means to rotate the plate and mould on a vertical axis, and positive coupling elements carried with the table and engageable with the plate to pull the plate away from the core when the table is lowered.

5. A casting machine comprising a rotatable mould, a core plate, a rotatable table on which the plate is mounted, power means to raise the plate into engagement with the mould, means to rotate the plate and mould on a vertical axis, and coupling dogs carried with the table, springs to urge the dogs into engagement with the plate and release stops to disengage the dogs from the plate automatically when the table is lowered.

6. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a mould, a circular support for the mould, rollers in engagement with the periphery of said circular support on which the said support is mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, an annular flange arranged below the periphery of said support and engaging other rollers said latter rollers being located abovesaid flange and adapted to resist upward thrust gearing engaged with the periphery of said support and power means to actuate the gearing to effect rotation of the support.

7. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a rotatable mould, a circular support for the mould having an annular flange, anti-friction bearings angularly disposed and engaging the flange to mount the support and mould rotatably on a vertical axis, said bearings resisting lateral thrust, a gear carried on the outer surface of the support and power driven gearing meshed therewith to rotate the support.

8. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a rotatable mould, a circular support for the mould having an annular flange, anti-friction bearings angularly disposed and engaging the flange to mount the support and mould rotatably on a vertical axis, said bearings resisting lateral thrust, a gear carried on the outer surface of the support, power driven gearing meshed therewith to rotate the support, a second annular flange carried with such support and independent anti-friction bearings engaging said last-named flange to hold the support centered during rotation.

WILLIAM A. GEISLER. 

